Product Details

Overview

Reach And Teach says:

We've always been inspired by the "Give us your poor" poem associated with the Statue of Liberty. Most know the poem but few know about the author, Emma Lazarus. Born to wealth, she created quite a stir as she departed the expected roles for women of her status and spent much of her time with and working for the poor. She was especially moved by the plight of immigrants. One of her poems, a fairly explicit love poem written to a woman, lends some credibility to the idea that she may have been lesbian. Already an outcast because of the people with whom she chose to associate and for whom she advocated, single, and Jewish, perhaps she had enough baggage in her life that she didn't need to also be "out." (Of course being out would have been unheard of in her day.)

Because of her work and especially her Colossus poem, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of hope for all outcasts across the world, gay and straight, all colors of the rainbow, all religions, all genders... This book tells a bit about her story and how her poem came to be an inspiration then and continues to inspire us now.

In 1883, Emma Lazarus, deeply moved by an influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe, wrote a sonnet that was to give voice to the Statue of Liberty. Originally a gift from France to celebrate our shared national struggles for liberty, the Statue, thanks to Emma's poem, slowly came to shape our hearts, defining us as a nation that welcomes and gives refuge to those who come to our shores.

About the Author:

Linda Glaser's grandparents emigrated from eastern Europe in the late 1800's to New York City, where they first saw the huge statue.Also the author of the immigrant novel, BRIDGE TO AMERICA, Ms. Glaser lives in Duluth, MN.

Reviews:

"Nivola's rectilinear compositions and poses, her generalized figures, and her bright, limited palette recall Barbara Cooney's period scenes, capturing New York City's opulent upper crust and the indigent yet dignified newcomers with equal skill. An excellent introduction to both Lady Liberty and the poem."--Horn Book, starred review

"The art and words are moving in this picture book, which pairs free verse with detailed, fullpage paintings in watercolor, ink, and gouache to tell the history behind Lazarus' famous inscription on the Statue of Liberty."--Booklist

"A gentle tribute to Emma Lazarus, very much in the style of Barbara Cooney's Eleanor (Viking, 1996)...The pictures, with their slight folk-art feel, capture both the time and action of the story, while the text illuminates the woman. An author's note and the full text of the poem complete the book. A worthwhile addition for most collections."--School Library Journal

"Nivola's watercolor-and-gouache paintings are rich in color and detail, showing the elegant streets and homes of 19th-century New York City as well as its settlement houses. Line, pattern and a sense of place give young readers a rich vision of the "golden door" by which "your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" came to this country. Nicely done, enabling even young children to see how the poem and the statue came together."--Kirkus